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EP 2 881 357 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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01.02.2017 Bulletin 2017/05 |
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Date of filing: 05.12.2013 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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Lifting vehicle
Hubfahrzeug
Véhicule de levage
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
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Designated Extension States: |
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BA ME |
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Date of publication of application: |
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10.06.2015 Bulletin 2015/24 |
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Proprietor: Merlo Project S.r.l. |
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I-12020 S. Defendente di Cervasca (Cuneo) (IT) |
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Inventor: |
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- Merlo, Amilcare
I-12020 San Defendente di Cervasca (Cuneo) (IT)
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Representative: Marchitelli, Mauro |
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Buzzi, Notaro & Antonielli d'Oulx Srl
Via Maria Vittoria 18 10123 Torino 10123 Torino (IT) |
(56) |
References cited: :
EP-A1- 0 953 540 EP-A1- 2 263 965 DE-A1-102005 036 935
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EP-A1- 1 449 806 CN-U- 201 520 623
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a lifting vehicle comprising:
- a frame having a front frame portion and a rear frame portion,
- a lifting arm having a rear arm section articulated to the rear frame portion about
a transverse axis and a front arm section equipped with attachment means for the connection
of implements,
- a lifting cylinder articulated to the frame and to the lifting arm, and configured
to move the arm between a lowered position in which the arm extends in a direction
parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a plurality of raised positions,
and
- a cabin compartment and an engine compartment located on opposite sides of the lifting
arm.
[0002] A vehicle of this type is known for example from
EP-A-0945395 of the same Applicant.
Description of the prior art
[0003] Vehicles with lifting arms arranged longitudinally have been shown to have a great
versatility of use. These vehicles can be used as aerial platforms, machines for use
in building construction, forklift trucks, etc. Vehicles of this type can also be
fitted in the rear portion of the frame of a power take-off and of a three-point hitch
as described in the document
EP-A-0945395, so that the vehicle can also be used as an agricultural machine.
[0004] EP 2 263 965 A discloses a lifting device according to the preamble of claim 1.
Object and summary of the invention
[0005] The present invention aims to provide a lifting vehicle of the type indicated above
having a further improved flexibility of use.
[0006] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a lifting vehicle
having the characteristics forming the subject of Claim 1.
[0007] The claims form an integral part of the disclosure provided in relation to the invention.
Brief description of the drawings
[0008] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings, given purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:
- Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a lifting vehicle according to the present
invention with the lifting arm in the lowered position and in a generic raised position,
respectively,
- Figure 3 is a perspective view analogous to Figure 1 with the engine compartment removed,
- Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the vehicle of Figures 1 and 2 with the front
arm section removed,
- Figure 5 is a section along the line V-V of Figure 4,
- Figure 6 is a section analogous to Figure 5 with the front arm section mounted,
- Figures 7, 8, and 9, 10 are details on a larger scale of the parts indicated, respectively,
by the arrows VII, VIII, IX and X in Figures 5 and 6,
- Figure 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a vehicle according to the
invention with the front arm section removed,
- Figure 12 is a perspective section along line XII-XII of Figure 11,
- Figure 13 is a view according to the arrow XII of Figure 12 with the front arm section
mounted, and
- Figure 14 is an enlarged detail of the part indicated by the arrow XIV in Figure 13.
Detailed description of the invention
[0009] With reference to Figures 1-3, numeral 10 indicates a lifting vehicle according to
the present invention. The vehicle 10 comprises a frame 12 having a front frame portion
12a and a rear frame portion 12b that carry, respectively, a pair of front wheels
14 and a pair of rear wheels 16. The frame 12 comprises two vertical longitudinal
walls 18a, 18b parallel to each other between which a longitudinal channel is defined
that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle A.
[0010] The vehicle 10 comprises a lifting arm 20 articulated to the rear frame portion 12b
about an axis B transverse to the longitudinal axis A of the vehicle 10. The lifting
arm 20 has a rear arm section 22 and a front arm section 24. The rear arm section
22 is permanently articulated to the frame 12 about axis B. A lifting cylinder 26
has a rear end articulated to the frame 12 and a front end articulated to the rear
arm section 22. The lifting cylinder 26 controls the oscillation of the lifting arm
20 about the axis B between a lowered position shown in Figure 1 and a plurality of
raised positions. In the lowered position, the lifting arm 20 extends parallel to
the longitudinal axis A of the vehicle 10 and is located between the two vertical
longitudinal walls 18a and 18b of the frame 12.
[0011] The front arm section 24 is equipped at its distal end with attachment means 28 for
the connection of an implement 30. Different types of implements 30 can be connected
to the lifting arm 20, such as forks, shovels, aerial platforms, etc. In the lowered
arm condition, the front end of the lifting arm 20 protrudes from the front face of
the vehicle 10, so that the implement 30 is located in front of the front wheels 14.
[0012] The vehicle 10 comprises a cabin compartment 32 and an engine compartment 34, located
on respective sides of the vehicle 10, on opposite sides with respect to the arm 20.
The cabin compartment 32 and the engine compartment 34 project laterally from the
respective vertical walls 18b and 18a of the frame 12.
[0013] According to the present invention, the front arm section 24 is connected in a removable
manner to the rear arm section 22. In this way, the vehicle 10 can assume a working
configuration in which it is equipped with the lifting arm 20 and can be used for
operations to be performed with the implement 30 applied to the end of the lifting
arm 20. Removing the front arm section 24, the vehicle 10 assumes the configuration
illustrated in Figure 4. In this configuration, the vehicle 10 may be used as an agricultural
tractor. In this second working configuration, the vehicle 10 is devoid of elements
protruding from the front part.
[0014] The front arm section 24 can be replaced with different types of arm sections or
with various types of implements. For example, the vehicle 10 may be equipped, in
turn, with front arm sections 24 with greater or lesser lengths depending on the work
to be carried out. In the known solutions it is not possible to vary the maximum length
of the lifting arm 20 of the vehicle and it is necessary to use a different type of
vehicle when, for example, greater lifting heights need to be reached. The vehicle
according to the present invention allows a greater versatility of use thanks to the
possibility of removing the front arm section 24 and replacing the front arm section
24 with an arm section with different characteristics. The front arm section 24 can
be telescopic or with a fixed length depending on the requirements.
[0015] With reference to Figure 5, the rear arm section 22 has a tubular shape, for example
a rectangular cross section, with an open front end configured to receive a portion
of equal length of the front arm section 24 inside it. The rear arm section 22 and
the front arm section 24 are equipped with mutually cooperating engagement means 36,
38 which allow the fixing of the front arm section 24 to the rear arm section 22.
With reference to Figure 10, the engagement means 36, 38 are arranged on the respective
outer sides, for example on the upper sides, of the arm sections 22, 24 and may be
formed by a hook 40 articulated to the rear arm section 22 and driven by a cylinder
42 between a disengaged position and an engaged position. In the engaged position,
the hook 40 engages a transversal pin 44 fixed to the front arm section 24.
[0016] With reference to Figure 9, the arm sections 22, 24 are equipped with respective
electro-hydraulic connectors 46, 48 which engage with each other in the position wherein
the front arm section 24 is fixed to the rear arm section 22. When the connectors
46, 48 are coupled to each other, it is possible to transmit electrical signals and
hydraulic commands from the vehicle 10 to the front arm section 24 and to the implement
30 mounted at the distal end of the front arm section 24. Preferably, the connectors
46, 48 are located at the respective rear ends of the arm sections 22, 24 and engage
frontally with each other when the rear end of the front arm section 24 is located
alongside the rear end of the rear arm section 22.
[0017] With reference to Figure 7, the front arm section 24 can be fitted with sliding runners
50 applied on its outer surface and configured to slide on the inner walls of the
rear arm section 22 during insertion or extraction of the front arm section 24. The
rear frontal end of the front arm section 24 can be equipped with recesses 52 which
engage transverse pins 54 (Figure 9) attached to the inside of the rear end of the
rear arm section 22 to form a stroke end of the insertion movement of the front arm
section 24 and to couple together the rear ends of the arm sections 22, 24.
[0018] With reference to Figures 5 and 8, the front frame portion 12a can be equipped with
one or more rollers 56 with horizontal axes supported between the two vertical walls
18a, 18b of the frame 12. The rollers 56 serve to support and guide the front arm
section 24 during the operations of insertion and removal.
[0019] Figure 5 shows the assembly phase of the front arm section 24 on the vehicle 10.
The front arm section 24 rests on a stand 58, which keeps the rear end of the front
arm section 24 at a certain height from the ground. The vehicle 10 is approached at
the front arm section 24 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the front
arm section 24. In a first step, the rear end of the front arm section 24 rests on
the rollers 56. At this point, the stand 58 can be removed. Continuing to advance
the vehicle 10, the rear end of the front arm section 24 is inserted through the open
front end of the rear arm section 22. In this first step, the rollers 56 support and
guide the front arm section 24. The movement of the vehicle 10 continues until the
rear end of the front arm section 24 comes into abutment against the pins 54 located
at the rear end of the rear arm section 22. At this point, the electro-hydraulic connectors
46, 48 are coupled together and they can provide an indication of the correct coupling
between the arm sections 22, 24 in the cabin of the vehicle. At this point, the cylinder
42, which controls the rotation of the hook 40 towards the fixing position, is driven.
When the hook 40 engages the pin 44, the rear part of the front arm section 24 is
compressed axially between the hook 40 and the pins 54. The removal of the second
arm section 24 is carried out by repeating these operations in reverse.
[0020] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the front end of the lifting cylinder
26 is articulated to the rear arm section 22. Therefore, the rear arm section 22 has
a dimension in the longitudinal direction greater than the minimum length of the lifting
cylinder 26, so as to allow the articulation of the front end of the lifting cylinder
26 to the rear arm section 22.
[0021] In Figures 11 to 14 a second embodiment is illustrated in which the rear arm section
22 has a dimension in a longitudinal direction less than the minimum length of the
lifting cylinder 26. In this case, the front end of the lifting cylinder 26 is articulated
to the front arm section 24. Figures 11 and 12 show the vehicle of this second embodiment
devoid of the front arm section 24. In this case, the rear arm section 22 has a very
small dimension in the longitudinal direction. The rear arm section 22 is equipped
as in the case described above with engagement means 36 for locking the front arm
section 24.
[0022] In this second embodiment a coupling device is also provided, configured to couple
the front end of the lifting cylinder 26 to the front arm section 24 in an articulated
manner. With reference to Figures 13 and 14, the front end of the lifting cylinder
26 carries a pivot pin 60 connected to the piston rod of the lifting cylinder 26 by
means of a fork element. The front arm section 24 is equipped on its underside with
a hook 62 articulated to the lower outer side of the front arm section 24 and movable
between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The hook 62 is driven by a
cylinder 64 having a first end articulated to the hook 64 and a second end articulated
to the lower side of the front arm section 24.
[0023] In this case, as well, the first and the second arm sections 22, 24 are equipped
with electro-hydraulic connectors 46, 48 which couple with each other in the position
wherein the front arm section 24 is fully inserted into the rear arm section 22.
[0024] Also in this second embodiment, support and guide rollers 56 are provided to support
and guide the front arm section 24 during manoeuvres of insertion and removal. Such
manoeuvres are performed in a similar manner to those described above with reference
to the first embodiment.
1. Lifting vehicle comprising:
- a frame (12) having a front frame portion (12a) and a rear frame portion (12b),
- a lifting arm (20) having a rear arm section (22) articulated to the rear frame
portion (12b) about a transverse axis (B) and a front arm section (24) equipped with
attachment means (28) for the connection of implements (30),
- a lifting cylinder (26) having a rear end articulated to the frame (12) and a front
end articulated to the lifting arm (20) and configured to move the lifting arm (20)
between a lowered position in which the lifting arm (20) extends in a direction parallel
to a longitudinal axis (a) of the vehicle (10) and a plurality of raised positions,
and
- a cabin compartment (32) and an engine compartment (34) located on opposite sides
of the lifting arm (20), whereby the front arm section (24) is connected in a removable
manner to the rear arm section (22), so that the vehicle (10) can assume a first working
configuration in which it is equipped with the complete lifting arm (20) and a second
working configuration in which the vehicle (10) is devoid of the front arm section
(24), characterised in that said arm sections (22, 24) are equipped with respective connectors (46, 48) located
at the respective rear ends of the arm sections (22, 24) and engageable with each
other in the condition wherein the rear end of the front arm section (24) is located
alongside the rear end of the rear arm section (22).
2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said arm sections (22, 24) are equipped with mutually cooperating engagement means
(36, 38) located on respective outer sides of the arm sections (22, 24).
3. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that said engagement means (36, 38) are controlled by a cylinder (42).
4. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear arm section (22) has a tubular form with an open front end, configured to
receive a rear part of equal length of the front arm section (24) inside it.
5. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the front frame portion (12a) carries at least one guide roller (56) on which a lower
side of the front arm section (24) is destined to rest during the assembly and removal
operations.
6. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lifting cylinder (26) has a front end articulated to the rear arm section (22).
7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said lifting cylinder (26) has a front end disengageably articulated to the front
arm section (24).
8. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the front arm section (24) comprises a hook (62) on its lower side movable between
a disengaged position and an engaged position, said hook (62) being configured to
engage a pivot pin (60) located at the front end of said lifting cylinder (26).
9. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that said hook (62) is controlled by a cylinder (64).
1. Hubfahrzeug, umfassend:
- einen Rahmen (12) mit einem vorderen Rahmenteil (12a) und einem hinteren Rahmenteil
(12b),
- einen Hebearm (20) mit einem hinteren Armabschnitt (22), der um eine Querachse (B)
herum an den hinteren Rahmenteil (12b) angelenkt ist, und einem vorderen Armabschnitt
(24), der mit Befestigungsmitteln (28) für die Anbindung von Geräten (30) versehen
ist,
- einen Hebezylinder (26) mit einem hinteren Ende, das an den Rahmen (12) angelenkt
ist, und einem vorderen Ende, das an den Hebearm (20) angelenkt ist, und der dazu
ausgestaltet ist, den Hebearm (20) zwischen einer abgesenkten Position, in welcher
der Hebearm (20) sich in einer Richtung parallel zu einer Längsachse (a) des Fahrzeugs
(10) erstreckt, und einer Mehrzahl angehobener Positionen zu bewegen, und
- einen Fahrerhausraum (32) und einen Motorraum (34), die sich auf gegenüberliegenden
Seiten des Hebearms (20) befinden, wobei der vordere Armabschnitt (24) auf abnehmbare
Weise mit dem hinteren Armabschnitt (22) verbunden ist, so dass das Fahrzeug (10)
einen ersten Arbeitszustand, in dem es mit dem vollständigen Hebearm (20) versehen
ist, und einen zweiten Arbeitszustand, in dem das Fahrzeug (10) den vorderen Armabschnitt
(24) nicht aufweist, annehmen kann, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Armabschnitte (22, 24) mit entsprechenden Verbindungselementen (46, 48) versehen
sind, die sich an den entsprechenden hinteren Enden der Armabschnitte (22, 24) befinden
und in dem Zustand, in dem das hintere Ende des vorderen Armabschnitts (24) sich entlang
des hinteren Endes des hinteren Armabschnitts (22) befindet, miteinander in Eingriff
bringbar sind.
2. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Armabschnitte (22, 24) mit wechselseitig zusammenwirkenden Eingriffsmitteln (36,
38) versehen sind, die sich an entsprechenden Außenseiten der Armabschnitte (22, 24)
befinden.
3. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Eingriffsmittel (36, 38) durch einen Zylinder (42) gesteuert werden.
4. Fahrzeug nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der hintere Armabschnitt (22) eine Röhrenform mit einem offenen Vorderende aufweist,
die dazu ausgestaltet ist, einen hinteren Teil gleicher Länge des vorderen Armabschnitts
(24) in sich aufzunehmen.
5. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der vordere Rahmenabschnitt (12a) wenigstens eine Führungsrolle (56) trägt, wobei
eine Unterseite des vorderen Armabschnitts (24) dazu bestimmt ist, während der Zusammenbau-
und Abnahmevorgänge auf dieser aufzuliegen.
6. Fahrzeug nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Hebezylinder (26) ein Vorderende aufweist, das an den hinteren Armabschnitt (22)
angelenkt ist.
7. Fahrzeug nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Hebezylinder (26) ein Vorderende aufweist, das lösbar an den vorderen Armabschnitt
(24) angelenkt ist.
8. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der vordere Armabschnitt (24) an seiner Unterseite einen Haken (62) umfasst, der
zwischen einer gelösten Position und einer Eingriffsposition beweglich ist, wobei
der Haken (62) dazu ausgestaltet ist, mit einem Schwenkstift (60) in Eingriff zu stehen,
der sich am Vorderende des Hebezylinders (26) befindet.
9. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Haken (62) durch einen Zylinder (64) gesteuert wird.
1. Véhicule de levage comprenant :
un châssis (12) ayant une partie de châssis avant (12a) et une partie de châssis arrière
(12b),
un bras de levage (20) ayant un section de bras arrière (22) articulée sur la partie
de châssis arrière (12b) autour d'un axe transversal (B) et une section de bras avant
(24) équipée de moyens de fixation (28) pour la connexion d'ustensiles (30),
un vérin de levage (26) ayant une extrémité arrière articulée sur le châssis (12)
et une extrémité avant articulée sur le bras de levage (20) et configuré pour déplacer
le bras de levage (20) entre une position abaissée dans laquelle le bras de levage
(20) s'étend dans une direction parallèle à un axe longitudinal (a) du véhicule (10)
et une pluralité de positions levées, et
un compartiment de cabine (32) et un compartiment moteur (34) situés sur des côtés
opposés du bras de levage (20),
moyennant quoi la section de bras avant (24) et reliée de manière amovible à la section
de bras arrière (22), de telle manière que le véhicule (10) peut prendre une première
configuration de travail dans laquelle il est équipé du bras de levage (20) complet
et une seconde configuration de travail dans laquelle le véhicule (10) est dépourvu
de la section de bras avant (24), caractérisé en ce que lesdites sections de bras (22, 24) sont équipées de connecteurs respectifs (46, 48)
situés au niveau d'extrémités arrière respectives des sections de bras (22, 24) et
pouvant venir en prise ensemble dans l'état dans lequel l'extrémité arrière de la
section de bras avant (24) est située le long de l'extrémité arrière de la section
de bras arrière (22).
2. Véhicule selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdites sections de bras (22, 24) sont équipées de moyens de prise (36, 38) coopérant
mutuellement situés sur des côtés extérieurs respectifs des sections de bras (22,
24).
3. Véhicule selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de prise (36, 38) sont commandés par un vérin (42).
4. Véhicule selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la section de bras arrière (22) a une forme tubulaire avec une extrémité avant ouverte,
configurée pour recevoir une partie arrière de longueur égale de la section de bras
avant (24) à l'intérieur de celle-ci.
5. Véhicule selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la partie de châssis avant (12a) supporte au moins un rouleau de guidage (56) sur
lequel un côté inférieur de la section de bras avant (24) est destiné à reposer pendant
les opération d'assemblage et d'enlèvement.
6. Véhicule selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit vérin de levage (26) a une extrémité avant articulée sur la section de bras
arrière (22).
7. Véhicule selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que ledit vérin de levage (26) a une extrémité avant articulée de façon à pouvoir venir
hors de prise de la section de bras avant (24).
8. Véhicule selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que la section de bras avant (24) comprend un crochet (62) sur son côté inférieur mobile
entre une position hors de prise et une position en prise, ledit crochet (62) étant
configuré pour venir en prise avec un axe de pivot (60) situé au niveau de l'extrémité
avant dudit vérin de levage (26).
9. Véhicule selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que ledit crochet (62) est commandé par un vérin (64).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description